Ahead of the 2024 US presidential election on November 5, the US Postal Service (USPS) has outlined its preparations for the successful delivery of election mail, with 640,000 postal workers at the ready.
According to USPS, it delivered 99.89% of ballots from voters to election officials within seven days in 2020, with a similar performance during the 2022 midterms. It will draw on this experience in the coming weeks, implementing proven “extraordinary measures” in the weeks immediately before and after the general election (October 21-November 15) to enhance the timely delivery of mail-in ballots entered close to or on election day and/or the state’s ballot return deadline. These efforts may include additional pickups, extra deliveries and special sort plans on processing equipment to expedite and enhance ballot delivery.
“Our letter carriers and facilities teams across the country, the 640,000 women and men of the Postal Service, are fully focused on the critical mission of delivering the nation’s election mail – just as we have done so excellently through this current primary season and as we have done in the past,” said Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy. “We are proud to do our part to help citizens’ who choose to use the mail to vote to do so effectively.”
Months of planning
Adrienne Marshall, director of election and government mail services, highlighted USPS’s efforts to provide ongoing communications to election officials across the country and expanded on her team’s continuous efforts to prepare for elections.
“Since late last year, the Postal Service has met regularly with stakeholders across the election mail landscape, including state and local election administrators, postal unions and management associations, federal agencies and congress, the mailing industry and non-governmental organizations,” she explained. “We have good working relationships with these organizations, and we greatly appreciate their partnership.
“Our dedicated election preparedness team will remain closely engaged with state and local election officials and other stakeholders through November to ensure we are acting quickly to address any election mail-related issue that may arise in the delivery of a ballot to and from a voter.”
Election mail security
The US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – the federal law enforcement and security arm of USPS – also highlighted its plan to implement robust measures aimed at ensuring the secure delivery of all mail-in ballots. USPIS will leverage its extensive experience and resources to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. This includes rigorous security protocols, continuous monitoring, and prompt response to any potential threats or incidents.
“We understand the critical role we play in the democratic process, and we are resolute in our efforts to secure the delivery of ballots and all election mail,” confirmed Brendan Donahue, assistant inspector in charge. “We are committed to ensuring the safe and secure delivery of election mail to and from voters, the integrity of our nation’s elections, and the protection of election officials from threatening and dangerous mail.
“We take a whole of agency and a whole of government approach to this critical mission, employing all our law enforcement resources and working in close coordination with our local, state and federal law enforcement and security partners.”